Rotating device with inflatable means for securing a human therein



NOV. 22, 1966 sHAFER ROTATING DEVICE WITH INFLATABLE MEANS FOR SECURING A HUMAN THEREIN Filed Oct. 28, 1963 l 'oi illl INVENTOR. FOREST M. SHAFER A'H'arneUS United States Patent 3,286,707 ROTATING DEVICE WITH INFLATABLE MEANS FOR SECURING A HUMAN THEREIN Forest M. Shafer, Camby, Ind. (RR. 19, Box 527, Indianapolis, Ind.) Filed Oct. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 319,482 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-24) This invention relates generally to health aid devices and more particularly to a machine intended to provide a beneficial effect without requiring physical exertion on the part of the person using the machine.

It is known that many machines are available which are intended to maintain or improve the health of human beings. Some machines are intended to exercise the muscles and others are intended to relax the muscles. Some are intended to improve circulation. However, most of the machines currently available for health improvement require physical exercise of the person using them. Also, they may be lacking in their ability to improve the condition of the whole body.

It will be immediately recognized that there are persons whose physical condition does not permit them to exercise strenuously, if to exercise at all. Others cannot very well withstand the action which is produced by some machines.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved health aid device.

A further object is to provide a device whereby the human body can be subjected to a gentle action which can promote good health.

A further object is to provide a device which does not require physical exertion on the part of the person using it.

A further object is to provide a device which is convenient and easy to use.

Described briefly, a typical embodiment of the present invention includes a stationary frame and a second frame rotatably mounted thereon. A resilient member is pro vided in the rotatable frame and includes a pocket to receive and embrace the body of the person using the machine. A motor is provided to drive the movable frame in rotation.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and the claim.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the details in the drawing, a stationary frame 11 is provided which can be mounted on the floor of a room and which may be conveniently constructed of tubular metal structural elements. In the illustrated embodiment, four wheels 12 are mounted for rotation on the axles 13. All wheels are mounted in a single plane and the axles 13 are equally spaced with respect to a center 14. Thus it is seen that the periphery 12a of each of the wheels intersects a radial line from the center 14 to the center of its axle at the same distance from the center '14 as does the periphery of each other wheel.

A second frame 16 is provided and is generally circular in form. It includes a circular channel 17 which may be of semi-circular cross-section 18 and which rides on and is guided by the wheels 12.

A shaft 19 is connected to the second frame 16 and has mounted thereon a pulley 21 which may be driven by the belt 22 which is driven by the pulley 23 of the drive motor 24 mounted to the stationary frame 11. The motor 24 may be reversible if desired though this is not usually necessary. Thus it is seen that the movable frame 16 can be driven in rotation on an axis through the center 14 and normal to the plane of the wheels 12.

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As can be seen from the drawing, the movable frame 16 can be conveniently constructed of tubular metal struc tural elements. A suitable backing block 26 may be mounted to the frame 16 by any suitable means such as, for example, bolts 27. A resilient member 28 is mounted to the backing block 26. This resilient member has a pocket therein having a head portion 29, torso portion 31, leg portion 32 and arm portions 33 and 34. This pocket is made the size of an average human being.

As can be observed in FIG. 3, the resilient member can be considered to have an outer wall portion 36 which is received in the hollow provided in the backing block 26 and is supported by the wall 37 of the hollow. An inner wall 38 is provided in a resilient member and it is the inner face 39 thereof which contacts the human body. Thus it is seen that a space 41 is provided between the inner and outer walls of the resilient member. This space can be filled with any suitable fluid and is typically filled with air.

Inasmuch as the resilient member is made of some resilient material such as synthetic rubber, for example, fluid can be supplied to the space 41 in such quantities as to press the inner walls 38 against the body of the person using the machine. By reason of the configuration at the frontal portion 42 of the resilient member, the member tends to close around the front of the body of the person as fluid is supplied to the space 41. Thus the person is held securely in place in the movable frame when the resilient member is inflated.

Inflation .can be facilitated by employing an electrically driven pump 44 pumping air from the atmosphere into the tank 46. A suitable valve body 47 can be employed to control the pressure of air in the tank and applied to the space 41 in the resilient member.

A control box 84 may 'be provided at the outer extremity of one of the arm portions of the resilient member and may include a lever 49 and a lever 51 for example. Lever 49 could be used to control the drive motor 24 and lever 51 can be used to control inflation and deflation of the resilient member. Suitable slip rings 52 mounted on the shaft 19 can be used to complete the wiring from the line plug 53 and the motor 24 to the control box 48. Of course, means other than the slip ring and brush combination shown could be used.

While many specific arrangements of controls could be employed, one example would be to have the pump 44 supply air directly to the tank 46. The pressure relief valve could be incorporated in the valve body. A line 54 is connected between the valve body and the resilient member and supplies air to the chamber 41 therein. It should be understood, that while no passageway is shown in FIG. 3 connecting this chamber 41 on the lefthand side to that on the righthand side, a suitable passageway over the head portion 29 or under the leg portion 32 could be provided and would be provided in the preferred embodiment. Additional passageways between the spaces on opposite sides of one of the pocket portions can be provided whenever and wherever desired to expedite inflation and deflation. It is desirable however that if the passageway is provided behind the pocket, it be lined with 'a rigid material so that when pressurized, any tendency to bulge and eject a person from the pocket is avoided.

Referring further to the possible control mechanism, the valve body can include a solenoid operated valve which in one position supplies air from the tank 46 to the line 54 and in the opposite position vents the line 54 through the pipe 55 to atmosphere. Operation of the valve would be controlled by the lever 51 which would also control operation of the pump and cause the pump to ope-rate whenever the valve is supplying air in line 54 and cease to operate Whenever the valve is venting to atmosphere. The other cont-r01 lever 49 could be used for the operation of the motor 24. A suitable electrical or mechanical interlock can be provided to prevent operation of the motor 24 whenever the line 54 is vented to atmosphere through the valve body 47 and pipe 55.

It may be desirable at time-s to remove and replace the resilient member. To facilitate this, a typical means of attachment of the resilient member to the backing block 26 is to provide a block or plate 56 imbed-ded in the resilient member and having a threaded stem 57 extending therefrom. The stem passes through the plate 58 which is welded to the structural tubing or rods 59. A hand wheel 61 with a spring loaded locking pin 62 secures the assembly to the plate 58 which is, of course, rigidly secured to the frame 16. Thus by pulling the locking pin 62 and turning the hand wheel 61, the stem can be freed and the resilient member easily pulled out of the hollow in the backing block 26. Of course, additional attachment mean-s are provided behind the arm and leg portions.

If desired, variable speed operation can be provided.

Normally the backing block 26 would be made of very light weight material and if desired, a rigid metal shell or plastic shell could be provided in lie-u of the backing block. The location of various parts, particularly in the movable frame 16, can be made such as to achieve both static and dynamic balance.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description,

61 they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claim.

The invention claimed is:

A health aid device comprising:

a stationary frame;

a plurality of wheels mounted to said frame for rotation in a plane;

a movable frame having a circular channel, said chan- 'nel being supported on said wheels whereby said movable frame is rotatable,

and a pneumatic cushion mounted on said movable frame and contoured to receive a human body and inflatable to securely embraoe a human body during rotation of said movable frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,054,402 9/ 1936 Williams 128- 4 2,534,471 12/ 19-50 No-rheim 5-61 3,025,857 3/"1962 Browner 128-376 3,179,360 4/ 196 5 Shelton et a1 2'44-122 3,197,203 7/ 1965 Tieman 27233 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,146,334 5/1957 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner. 

